Landscaper Helps Drought-Proof Yards

With California in a major drought, people are facing the challenge of what to do about their yards. Many  homeowners are tearing up their water-hungry grass and replacing it with a more drought-tolerant landscape.

In wealthy Rancho Santa Fe, a suburb of San Diego, many families are less eager to cut back water use, but one couple is exploring that option, with the help of a well-known landscaper.

Drought Landscaping Tips

1. Use recycled or grey-water to irrigate fruit trees and other non-edible plants
2. Avoid Bermuda grass, which is harder to dig up than sod
3. Try “solarizing” or the “cover and smother” method to kill grass in place instead of tearing it out

Water-Wise Plants

• Cork oak
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Bay
• Oregano
• Rock roses
• Westringia
• Peruvian lillies (Alstromeria)
• Blanket flower
• Grevillea
• Sage

Photos from Robin Young’s visit

Guest

• Nan Sterman, host of the Growing Passion on KPBS-TV, Nan tweets @growingpassion.
• Tom and Gay, homeowners in Rancho Santa Fe.

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